Rodgers Expects Allen To Return For Stoke Game

Swansea City manager Brendan Rodgers expects Joe Allen to return at Stoke City in ten days time.

Rodgers revealed to the Evennig Post that he rested the midfielder for last Saturday's home defeat against Norwich City.

The Swans boss said he didn't want to run the risk of losing him for 'six or seven weeks' as he struggled with a hamstring problem.

Rodgers said:

'There's no doubt that we missed Joe last weekend - and that's the reason why I rested him,'

'He is very important for us. He is such a catalyst for our team both with the ball and with our pressure off the ball.

'We could not afford to lose him for six or seven weeks, and that's why we didn't play him against Norwich.

'He maybe could have played, but I felt it would have been too big a risk. Joe will be training by the end of this week.'

Swansea City clearly missed Joe Allen last weekend as they struggled to cope with quite a physical, battling and hard-working Norwich City side.

Josh McEachran came in as his replacement and while the teenager has been tipped for big things in the future, few Swans fans were impressed by the impact he made in the game - saying he lacked a physical edge and attacking momentum.